materialising sand 28.04.18
Materialising Sand The Dunes, The Archipelago, The Beach
by Lin Derong thesis supervisor Dr. Lilian Chee
volume 2
Architectural Design thesis submitted to the Department of Architecture in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE at the National University of Singapore presented on the 28th April 2018
Gigantic sand dunes continue to pile as Singapore safeguards her resources amidst global scarcity. Shifting away from sand’s instrumentalist narrative, three erratic sandscapes emerge vis-à-vis our three stockpile sites as a hyper-productive leisure infrastructure to recast sand’s muted politics and its tactility as an emotive material matter. Performing further as a morphological catalysis, our relationships and vulnerabilities with sand unfold.
Behaviourology 010 -----
The Dunes Seletar | Shooting Range 038
The archipelago Punggol | Barge Cruise 064
The Beach Tampines | Infinity Sand-pool 090 --References 116
008
009
010
011 DB000. [Previous Spread]
Tropical Arid. Standing on
Bartley Viaduct. Tampines on second visit, 2018.
DB001. [Opposite] A small
pile of big. Sand particles in
a sand pile. See figure FP103 Sand classification table in
Materialising Sand: Volume 1
for the constitutions of sand as a matter.
Behaviourology
Our relationship and vulnerabilities with sand are deeply embedded in sand’s material properties. Sand is a granular material that consists of particles between 0.06mm to 2mm in diameters as defined in volume 1. They behave in very peculiar ways which are akin to solids, liquids
and gases. Each granular particle is capable of accumulating into scales ranging from table piles to sheer territorial landforms. Together, their forms morph with wind, gravity and water.
The architecture takes an interest in the materiality of sand – tactile,
haptic, scalar – to translate into an alternative experience and ecology. Vis-à-vis Singapore’s three sand stockpiles, three surreal sandscapes emerge: the leaky, the flamboyant, and the vast.
012
ABSORB
BURY
CARVE
CONGLOMERATE
DEPOSIT
ERODE
SALTATE
SCOUR
SEEP
SETTLE
SLUMP*
SUBMERGE
DB002. Sand Behaviours Index. Due to sand’s material properties,
*Slumping occurs when a coherent mass of loosely consolidated sand
not exhaustive. Drawing reconstructed from Allen, 469-471.
sliding along a concave-upward or planar surface
they behave in a certain way upon external forces acting on it. List is
moves a short distance down a slope. Movement is characterized by
013
SURGE
TERRACE
TUNNEL
VEGETATE
EXCAVATE
FACET
FOLD
GRADATE
IMPACT
LIQUIFY
REBOUND
RIPPLE
014 Angle of Repose = tan-1(h ÷ 1/2 d)
d
where tanθ = opposite ÷ adjacent h= height from base to peak d= base diameter
h= 12000 θ Dry Sand - 34o
tan34 = h ÷ 1/2 d 34o = tan-1 (2 x 12000/d) d = 24000 ÷ tan(34) d = 35600mm (3 s.f.)
Sand will fall on slip-face by breaking the particle tension, and fill up the gap. This process will repeat overtime under gravity and material weakness.
Sand (water filled) 30o to 15o
h= 12000
45o = tan-1[(2 x 12000) ÷ d) d = 24000 ÷ tan(45) d = 24000mm Wet Sand - 45o
DB003. Angle of Repose. This is the steepest angle of dip relative
to the horizontal plane to which sand can be piled without slumping, anything more, slope surface will slide. Sand has a predetermined
angle of repose from 34o to 45o. Generally, the rougher the grains the steeper the angle due to their ability to better interlock. Reference: Glover, Thomas J. Pocket Ref. 4th ed. Sequoia Publishing, 2010.
015 Wind Direction
Smaller particles move by suspension
Larger particles move by saltation
Slip Face
Cross-bed Surface (Buried Slip Face
Wind Direction
Leeward Slope Windward Slope
Dune Migration
Windward slope is smoothened and shaped by wind force.
DB004. Sand Dune Profile.
Leeward slope forms an angle with the sand surface by mechanical force of the sand’s own weight.
016 Wind Direction
TRANSVERSE
LONGITUDINAL
BARCHAN (CONVEX)
DB005. Aeolian Sand Dunes. Geometries shaped naturally by
wind velocity and sand supply. Sand particles moves with the wind direction. These typologies are found in different places on the Earth’s surfaces according to global wind movements.
017
STAR
BARCHANOID
Elongated arms extend upwind behind the central part of the dune.
PARABOLIC (CONCAVE) Slip faces often occur on the
outer side of the nose and on the outer slopes of the arms.
018
DB006. [Above] Wind Simulations. Performed under artificial
DB007. [Below] Particle Saltation. Performed under artificial
oeirntates with wind movement as each grain saltates, suspends and
wind movement as each grain saltates, suspends and displaces.
condition, sand as an aggregate pile morphs, shifts position, and displaces.
condition. Sand as an aggregate pile morphs and shifts position with
019
020 3 MONTHS
WIND - 50%
Plan
Side Perspective WIND - 75%
Plan
Side Perspective WIND - 100%
Plan
Side Perspective Wind Direction DB008. Barchan Typology. Postulated (convex) sand dune
alteration with varying wind speed over a period of 12 months.
Referenced from Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014.
6 MONTHS
12 MONTHS
021 3 MONTHS
6 MONTHS
12 MONTHS
WIND - 50%
Plan
Side Perspective WIND - 75%
Plan
Side Perspective WIND - 100%
Plan
Side Perspective
DB009. Parabolic Typology. Postulated (concave) sand dune
alteration with varying wind speed over a period of 12 months.
Referenced from Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014.
022 Aeolian Sand and Obstacles - Sediments Air converges and wind velocity increases as they pass through a physical barrier/ obstacle. Airborne sand particles travelling by suspension will deposit as sediment on the leeward side as air
diverges and wind velocity decrease. Overtime, sand will accumulate. DB010a. Plan of Deposit.
DB010b. [Opposite] Section Profile of Deposit.
DB011a. Obstacles and Artificial Conditions. An abstract object is placed in the middle of a sand pile where conditions are artificially
exaggerated and controlled to expedite the morphology process and achieve certain forms on purpose.
023 Air converges and velocity
Air diverges and velocity
increase
decreases
Obstacle/ Barrier
DB011b. Expedited Burial. As sediments accumulate overtime, the
obstacle will eventually be buried in sand.
Wind Deposit Sediment
024 Aeolian Sand and Obstacles - Morphology Simulation Abstract physical obstacles are introduced to alter dune’s movement direction, and also creating paths
for dunes to morph. The experiment attempts to learn simple organisation techniques to achieve specific morphologies. Naturally, these processes will take several decades.
Referenced from Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014.
025 DB012a. [Opposite] Obstacle Simulation A. Obstacles with an
angle to the wind flow shape the dune movements perpendicular to themselves - turning dunes movement direction.
DB012b. Obstacle Simulation B. Straight wall variation.
026 DB012c. Obstacle Simulation C. Dunes tend to turn their crest
parallel to the obstacles they meet with in their moving direction/ wind direction.
027 DB012d. Obstacle Simulation D. Obstacles with an angle to the
wind flow shape the dune movements perpendicular to themselves turning dunes movement direction.
028
SINGLE MOUND
RIDGE PILE
STACKED PILE
DB013. Artificial Sand Pile. Geometries formed as a result from pragmatic storage purpose - fresh off conveyor mills and sand barges. These typologies are found in sand stockpiles.
029
Conveyor belt vibrates sand particles to separate individual grains
Angle of repose of slope face keep at 34o and below.
Section profile of conveyor belt diverting sand to the peak.
Processed and washed sand proceeds to the
final stage to be stored in a pile. DB014. Piling Sand. Drawing based on observations outside a cement plant in Punggol. Extension to figure AA06 Formation
Method: Artificial Sources, and AA07 Frac Sand Plant Process of
Materialising Sand, Volume 1.
Scale [1:150]
030
031
DB015. [Opposite] Sand Terrace. Tampines on second visit. DB016. White Mounds. Tampines on second visit.
032 Deep Sand Vibrator - by Piling to reinforce surface
Vibrating Plate Compactors
Lightweight compaction
DB017a. Compacting Sand - Vibration. Heavy duty Stress is
equipment to maintain sand
compactness. Vibration of sand
applied repeatedly and rapidly via a mechanically driven hammer.
mass ensures higher density.
Often combined with rolling compaction. Drawing not to scale.
Weight is hydraulically lifted and Placement of Foot
dropped from specific height
and Hammer
Compact point: sand influence zone, up to 9 meters deep
Sand compact by impact, compaction hole created
DB017b. Compacting Sand - Impact. Stress is applied by dropping a large mass onto the surface of the soil. Drawing not to scale.
033 Single Drum and Tendem Rollers
Slope Vibratory Compactor
Static Linear Pressure
Limited Compactness
DB017c. Compacting Sand - Static. A large static stress and pressure is added on the surface and then released overtime.
Drawing not to scale. Reference from Mishra, Gopal. ‘Different Types
of Soil Compaction Equipments -Types of Rollers’. Accessed 31 March 2018.
Vibratory Roller
Soil Compactor
Levelling Blade
100mm
300kg
500kg
750kg
200mm 300mm
400mm
500mm 600mm 700mm
DB017d. Compacting Sand - Rolling. A heavy cylinder is rolled
over the surface of the soil. Often fitted with vibratory devices.
Commonly used on sports pitches. Reconstructed from Danneberger, Karl. ‘The Science of Soil Compaction’. SportsField Management, 2013. Drawing not to scale.
1000kg 15psi 12psi 9psi 6psi 3psi
034 Sand Pile Casting. Small amount of water is able to bind the gaps between particles. Electrostatic attraction of water to mineral surfaces will increase soil strength.
DB018a. Mixture A. 1 : 1 [Sand : Water]
DB018b. Mixture B. Kinetic Sand with Scenic Spray DB018c. Mixture C. 1 : 1/8 [Sand : Water]
DB018d. Mixture D. 1: 1/8 [Sand : Seawater]
DB018e. Mixture E. 1 : 1/2 : 3/4 [Sand : Cornstarch : Water]
DB018f. Mixture F. 2 : 1 : 1 [Sand : White Glue : Cornstarch] DB018f. Cooking mixture E over heat.
035
036 There is a principle specific to environmental ecology: it states that anything is possible – the worst disasters or the most flexible evolutions
- Felix Guatarri, “The Three Ecologies”, 1989
The architecture interventions are set to blur the boundaries between
architecture and landscape. In Antoine Picon’s words, it is a convergence of “abstract information and tangible sensation”. Whereas architecture is understood as an abstraction, landscape is traditionally associated
with tangible materiality and sensation. In the reconciliation between conceptual and tangible, constructing these interventions involve
negotiating through challenging realms as the site contexts impose their
technical limits – practicality, access, codes, programmatic performances – set within a defined architectural context.
Using landforms created by sand and its material properties, three
sandscapes – a series of dunes, an archipelago, and a beach – emerge and
transform into extreme forms of landscape. Beyond pastoral images, they make use of the three site contexts and their corresponding associative uses of sand – a shooting range, a barge cruise, and an infinity sand-
pool. These are artificially constructed grounds made to activate sand’s
tactility, materiality, performance, texture and properties. Sand becomes unpredictable and at times, risky. They leak, erode, slump, bury, shift,
morph, deplete and accumulate, and they are ever changing; challenging the static and inert state of sand in the stockpiles. As compared to
their counterparts in the natural realm, these morphological processes are architecturally tampered with and hastened; while leaving these
supposedly arid and dry landforms readily at the disposal of Singapore’s hot and wet climate.
Combined with the primacy of sand’s materiality, the landscape is
immersive, haptic, and experienced directly by the body. Users would have to climb, scale, and traverse across these vast landscapes while playing
and tampering with the terrains. Being excessive and exaggerated, these hyper-productive leisure infrastructures become zones of differences
to bring forth an alternative experience with sand whereby an aesthetic dream is built-up.
Through their tangible material consequence and immaterial experience of sand operating on both an intimate and colossal scale, the affective
is hence generated while exposing the symbiotic relationships between people and sand.
037
Three Sandscapes
038 N
DS001. Seletar Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4]
DS002. [Overleaf] Dunes
Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
[Stockpile] Storage of sand, imported and/or extracted material matter.
[Dunes] Any accumulation of sand-size,
windblown materials. Supports a wide range of flora and fauna.
[ Super Dunes ] A Shooting Range. Supports
shooting and bomb disposal activities as a soft barrier and trap for shrapnel.
99,000m2 Military Training Ground
Explosive Ordinance Disposal Public Shooting Sport
Paintball Arena
Sand Maintenance
PRECARITY x protection
041
The Dunes Seletar | Shooting Range
042
043
044
045
046 1B. [Opposite]
Precarious Dunes. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. 1A. [Previous Spreads]
The Leaky. Computer
generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm.
Like a new landscape dug out of sand, the range exaggerates the use of sand as a soft barrier for shooting sport. In return, the enormous
scale of the dunes acting as a protective wall
must be maintained as it slumps with gravity over time. Built on medium-coarse compact sand, the dunes designed on a 50 degrees
angle of repose greatly exceeds the 34 degrees limit due to spatial constraints on site and the
programmatic height requirements. Amidst the thrills and risks of a shooting range, the wall
leaks. Grains of sand slumps from the wall and filters into the funnel underground – exposing
our vulnerabilities as these large dunes deplete
and overwhelm the shooters. By the 6th month, the new landscape underground formed from
the leaked sand above act as a paintball arena. As sand depletion reaches a dangerous level by the 11th month, the range is closed for
maintenance – to manicure these sand back into shape.
047
048
049
050
051
052
Top - Bottom
1C_1. Month 3 - Marksman. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 1C_2. Month 6 - Paintball. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
1C_3. Month 12 - Maintenance. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
053
054
055
056
057
058
059
060
061
Month 12 - The range is left with the standing mesh structure, while the underground paintball arena is completely buried in sand.
062
063
064 N
DP001. Punggol Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4]
DP002. [Overleaf] Barge
Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
[Stockpile] Storage of sand, imported and/or extracted material matter.
[Archipelago] An extensive group of islands.
Good for pirate hideouts.
[ Super Archipelago ] A series of sand barges
transformed into a round-island travelling cruise and night club.
Club
Dancing Bar
Casino
Nudist Beach
Buffet Restaurant
concealement x hedonistic pleasrures
067
The archipelago Punggol | Barge Cruise
068
069
070
071
072 2B. [Opposite]
Islands of Lairs. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. 2A. [Previous Spreads]
The Flamboyant. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm.
Drifting off Punggol Waterfront, each sand
barge transforms into a temporary utopia of floating island using a series structural kit-
of-parts. Mimicking the image of fully loaded
sand barges observed from afar, the structures
house various party programmes and double as a functional angle retainer. Like a multiplying
landscape which permutates differently every day, the sand barges connect to each other
via bridges and hide away from direct view. Threading on the borderline of law, sand
becomes concealment for the activities hosted
on board. As the party ball drops in the evening, sand’s flamboyance transforms from a scarce
circulated resource, into an excessive hedonistic
matter where clubbers frolic in, climb, and party in sand showers. Sailing off from BCA’s Punggol Aggregate Terminal, the barges travel around
the island – instead of transporting sand like in the day, it is a parade around the constructed skyline of Singapore, built on sand.
073
074
075
076
077
078
Top - Bottom
2C_1. 6pm - Embarkment. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 2C_2. 6am - Hangover. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
2C_3. 12am - Hedonists. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
079
080
081
082
083
084
085
086
12am - The sand parade odyssey.
087
088
089
090 N
DT001. Tampines Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4]
DT002. [Overleaf] Beach
Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
[Stockpile] Storage of sand, imported and/or extracted material matter.
[Beach] A landform alongside a body of water
which consists of loose particles.
[ Super Beach ] An extensive infinity sand-pool
that cantilevers over two reservoirs.
Beach Volleyball Arena
Children Crèche
Natural Sun Tan
Cliff Fishing Sand Slide
Sandcastle Playground Kayak & Dragonboat
Artificiality x Leisure Phalanstère
093
The BEACH Tampines | Infinity Sand-pool
094
095
096
097
098 3B. [Opposite]
Infinity Beach. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. 3A. [Previous Spreads]
The Vast. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm.
A vast expansive beach is juxtaposed against the urban housing estate in Tampines. Stretching beneath Bartley Viaduct and cantilevering
over Tampines Quarry and Bedok Reservoir, the beach provides different vantage points
for a spectacular view of the sand in Tampines Stockpile across its various elevations. The
constructed beach is one that can thus exist
without a shoreline as sanitised sand is poured over modular containers installed on site.
Expounding on the artificiality of sand, the
beach is an ‘out-of-this-world’ experience where the two infinity edges on the two water bodies give it no seeming end as a surreal image that overpowers the visceral. The beach operates
as a leisure phalanstère close to public access
in a highly organised manner – from sanitised indoor sandpits to open-air sand slides -
whereby sanitised sand is frolicked with and
used in seemingly mundane ways in their clear delineated zones.
099
100
101
102
103
104
Top - Bottom
3C_1. Sanitised Sandcastle. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 3C_2. Best Views. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
3C_3. New Boundaries. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
New Boundaries - Expansive sun tanning decks and beach lounges are available for vacation seekers - enjoying the view from the infinity sand-pool
115
116 REFERENCES
Lewis, Paul, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis. Lewis.Tsurumaki.
Allen, Stan, Marc McQuade, and Princeton University. School of
Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, 2008.
Architecture. Landform Building: Architecture’s New Terrain. Baden,
Switzerland;Princeton, N.J.; Lars Müller Publishers, 2011. Coates,
Nigel.
Narrative
Architecture.
Sussex;Hoboken, NJ; Wiley, 2012.
Chichester,
West
Danneberger, Karl. ‘The Science of Soil Compaction’. SportsField
Management, 2013. https://www.sportsfieldmanagementmagazine.
com/maintenance/the-science-of-soil-compaction/.
Glover, Thomas J. Pocket Ref. 4th ed. Sequoia Publishing, 2010.
InfraNet Lab, Lateral Office, and David J. Lewis. Coupling. Vol. no. 30.
Pamphlet Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998.
Koolhaas, Rem. Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for
Manhattan. New. New York, N.Y: Monacelli Press, 1994.
Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014.
Lewis: Opportunistic Architecture. 1st ed. New York;Chicago; Graham
———. Situation Normal. Vol. no. 21. Pamphlet Architecture. New
York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998.
Mishra, Gopal. ‘Different Types of Soil Compaction Equipments -Types of Rollers’. Accessed 31 March 2018. https://theconstructor.org/ geotechnical/soil-compaction-equipments-roller-types/9389/.
Lim, Charles. Sea State 9: Proclamation. 2017. Video. https://seastate. sg/projects/sea-state-4.
Welland, Michael. ‘Blowing in the Wind’. In Sand: The Never-Ending
Story, 146–75. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2009. --
DT003. Overlook. Bedok Reservoir overlooking Tampines Stockpile. Tampines on second visit, 2018.
117
This page is left blank intentionally.
CXIX PLATES Submitted Drawings
[B-Scrolls]
1B. Precarious Dunes. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. 2B. Islands of Lairs. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. 3B. Infinity Beach. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 594 x 1782mm. [C-Scrolls]
1C_1. Month 3 - Marksman. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 1C_2. Month 6 - Paintball. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
1C_3. Month 12 - Maintenance. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 2C_1. 6pm - Embarkment. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 2C_2. 6am - Hangover. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
2C_3. 12am - Hedonists. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
3C_1. Sanitised Sandcastle. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. 3C_2. Best Views. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm.
3C_3. New Boundaries. Computer generated drawing. Print. 594 x 594mm. [A-Panels]
1A. The Leaky. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm.
2A. The Flamboyant. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm. 3A. The Vast. Computer generated drawing. Print. 1:250 on 841 x 1189mm.
CXX
B-Scrolls. Order: T - B
CXXI
C-Scrolls. Order: L - R, T - B.
CXXII
1A. The Leaky. Computer generated drawing. Print. 841 x 1189mm.
CXXIII
2A. The Flamboyant. Computer generated drawing. Print. 841 x 1189mm.
CXXIV
3A. The Vast. Computer generated drawing. Print. 841 x 1189mm.
CXXV APPENDIX Situating Spectacle
[Singapore’s sand stockpile in 15 photographs, Timber frame, 297 x 297mm]
FS01. Tea-Break. Workers taking a break from manicuring sand piles. Seletar Link. 2017.
FS02. Houses Built On Sand. Stockpile sitting inertly against Punggol Waterfront Estate on a drizzling day. 2017. FS03. Manicure. Workers plucking weed out of sand stockpile. Seletar Link. 2017.
FS04. Teletubbies Might Appear. Rows of sand piles and exposed drainage pipes. Seletar Link. 2017. FS05. Maintenance. Military vehicle garage and Seletar Stockpile. 2017.
FP01. Sand Up. Loaded tipper tuck exiting Pulau Punggol Aggregate Terminal , set aganist Punggol Waterfront Estate. 2017. FP02. Nature’s Revenge. Pulau Punggol Timor. 2017.
FP03. Fresh Arrivals. Behind-the-fence sand processing in Aggregate Terminal. 2017.
FP04. Secret Mountain. Imported sand piled inside Punggol’s Aggregate Terminal. 2017. FP05. Regulated Waters. Standing on Punggol coastline on a drizzling day. 2017. FT01. Highway View. Driving up Bartley Viaduct. 2018.
FT02. Sand Drive. Tampines stockpile along Bartley Viaduct. 2018.
FT03. Singapore Desert. Massive landscape along Bartley Viaduct. 2018. FT04. All Natural. Sand dunes seen from Tampines Quarry. 2017. FT05. I’m Home. HDB Tampines Sand Stockpile Site. 2017.
CXXVI
CXXVII
CXXVIII
CXXIX
CXXX MANIFEST
[Behaviourology]
DB000. Tropical Arid. Standing on Bartley Viaduct. Tampines on second visit, 2018.
DB001. A small pile of big. Sand particles in a sand pile. See figure FP103 Sand classification table in Materialising Sand: Volume 1 for the constitutions of sand as a matter.
DB002. Sand Behaviours Index. Due to sand’s material properties, they behave in a certain way upon external forces acting on it. List is not exhaustive. Drawing reconstructed from Allen, 469-471.
DB003. Angle of Repose. This is the steepest angle of dip relative to the horizontal plane to which sand can be piled without slumping, anything more, slope surface will slide. Sand has a predetermined angle of repose from 34o to 45o. Generally, the rougher the grains the steeper the angle due to their ability to better interlock. Reference: Glover, Thomas J. Pocket Ref. 4th ed. Sequoia Publishing, 2010. DB004. Sand Dune Profile.
DB005. Aeolian Sand Dunes. Geometries shaped naturally by wind velocity and sand supply. Sand particles moves with the wind direction. These typologies are found in different places on the Earth’s surfaces according to global wind movements.
DB006. Wind Simulations. Performed under artificial condition, sand as an aggregate pile morphs, shifts position, and oeirntates with wind movement as each grain saltates, suspends and displaces.
DB007. Particle Saltation. Performed under artificial condition. Sand as an aggregate pile morphs and shifts position with wind movement as each grain saltates, suspends and displaces.
DB008. Barchan Typology. Postulated (convex) sand dune alteration with varying wind speed over a period of 12 months. Referenced from Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014. DB009. Parabolic Typology. Postulated (concave) sand dune alteration with varying wind speed over a period of 12 months. Referenced from Kotenko, Anastasia, and Niki Kakali. ‘Aeolian Sand Odyssey’. Landscape Urbanism, Architectural Association, 2014. DB010a. Plan of Deposit.
DB010b. Section Profile of Deposit. DB011a. Obstacles and Artificial Conditions. An abstract object is placed in the middle of a sand pile where conditions are artificially exaggerated and controlled to expedite the morphology process and achieve certain forms on purpose. DB011b. Expedited Burial. As sediments accumulate overtime, the obstacle will eventually be buried in sand.
DB012a. Obstacle Simulation A. Obstacles with an angle to the wind flow shape the dune movements perpendicular to themselves - turning dunes movement direction. DB012b. Obstacle Simulation B. Straight wall variation.
DB012c. Obstacle Simulation C. Dunes tend to turn their crest parallel to the obstacles they meet with in their moving direction/ wind direction.
DB012d. Obstacle Simulation D. Obstacles with an angle to the wind flow shape the dune movements perpendicular to themselves - turning dunes movement direction. All images, drawings and photographs are produced by author in 2018, unless otherwise stated.
CXXXI MANIFEST
DB013. Artificial Sand Pile. Geometries formed as a result from pragmatic storage purpose - fresh off conveyor mills and sand barges. These typologies are found in sand stockpiles.
DB014. Piling Sand. Drawing based on observations outside a cement plant in Punggol. Extension to figure AA06 Formation Method: Artificial Sources, and AA07 Frac Sand Plant Process of Materialising Sand, Volume 1.
DB015. Sand Terrace. Tampines on second visit.
DB016. White Mounds. Tampines on second visit.
DB017b. Compacting Sand - Impact. Stress is applied by dropping a large mass onto the surface of the soil. Drawing not to scale.
DB017d. Compacting Sand - Rolling. A heavy cylinder is rolled over the surface of the soil. Often fitted with vibratory devices. Commonly used on sports pitches. Reconstructed from Danneberger, Karl. ‘The Science of Soil Compaction’. SportsField Management, 2013. Drawing not to scale. DB018a. Mixture A. 1 : 1 [Sand : Water]
DB018b. Mixture B. Kinetic Sand with Scenic Spray DB018c. Mixture C. 1 : 1/8 [Sand : Water]
DB018d. Mixture D. 1: 1/8 [Sand : Seawater]
DB018e. Mixture E. 1 : 1/2 : 3/4 [Sand : Cornstarch : Water]
DB018f. Mixture F. 2 : 1 : 1 [Sand : White Glue : Cornstarch] DB018f. Cooking mixture E over heat.
[The Dunes]
DS001. Seletar Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4] DS002. Dunes Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
[The Archipelago]
DP001. Punggol Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4] DP002. Barge Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
[The Beach]
DT001. Tampines Intervention. Scale [1:5000 on an A4] DT002. Beach Pattern. Scale [1:500 on an A4]
DT003. Overlook. Bedok Reservoir overlooking Tampines Stockpile. Tampines on second visit, 2018.
CXXXII ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This second volume is both a proposition and reflection of a question that is urgent: what can architecture do in light of a national resource crisis? Or rather, how can it contribute? Architecture is a tough discipline of making. It involves negotiating through poetry, abstraction, the immaterial and tangible, practicality and technical limits. The study of sand from its politics to materiality had led to my intention to question our relationships and vulnerabilities with sand through architecture. The use of design as a method to pursue this intention was both challenging and tedious. I am grateful to the following people who made the past eight months fulfilling: My parents, for your undying love and support – from helping me with my sand models to accommodating my request to transform most of the house into a sandy workspace. I am indebted.
YC, for keeping my sanity as we blaze through two separate projects in parallel with thesis. Your systematic organisation kept me in check as we multitask our various other roles; while I continue to flood your whatsapp when shit happens. Shan, Jong, Chiew, Isabel, Kyra, Yanjie, and Yuqi for sticking around during the lowest times and giving your help and encouragements all these while. Sarah and Su Zin, for checking the text in volume 1. Writing is an act of design which I need more practice.
Li Li Chung (Exactly Foundation), for inviting me to the wonderful roundtable dinner session at your place. It was an insightful session to talk about sand with many amazing people. Philip, you are a structural genius.
Zi Hao, the thesis took quantum leaps from your critical feedbacks throughout the process. I can’t thank you enough.
All the critics: Dr Chang Jiat-Hwee, Dr Simone Chung, Erik G. L’Heureux, John Hong (Seoul National University), Dr. Kris Knapp (Western Sydney University), Constance Lau (University of Westminster), Florian Schätz, Peter Sim, Tiah Nan Chyuan, Adrian Lai for your valuable critique during interims and studio sessions. and Lilian, your undying encouragements and patience have supported us through this exciting and scary process. Thank you for believing in me and my non-conventional vehicle for thesis design. I’ll always appreciate you for going hard on us throughout and showing us what architecture can do beyond our limited knowledge. Even though I almost gave up near the finishing line, it was a struggle I’m glad to have gone through. You have trained me to be the designer/ undercover activist I am today, and you have imparted me values which I will hold tight. I am very lucky to have you as a tutor, mentor, and boss since year 1. It was an experience which I will never exchange for anything else. Thank you for the five years.
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